SOCOM 4 has 4 multiplayer game modes. Each game mode can be played under standard and classic modes. The beta also contains a few custom game modes with special rules or certain weapons only. Below well break down all the game modes and the varying rules in each match.

Uplink

Uplink is the standard capture the flag, one side attacking and one defending.

Offense must steal the other team’s data by downloading it off computers set throughout the map. The data locations are shown on both team’s HUD. Only one player can hold the data at a time. The player must then run back to their base and upload it to the team’s computer. The player who has the data will be marked on everyone’s HUD.

Defense must defend the data locations until the time runs out. If the data is stolen, defense must kill the player, grab the data, and re-upload the data to the original data location. Any player who is killed while holding the data will drop the data where they died. Either team can then pick it up.

It takes about 5 seconds to download/upload the intel data. The intel locations are random in each game.

Standard
Best out of 2 Rounds
10 Minute Time Limit for each Round
Teams switch sides after each round
Three random Data locations on each map

Classic
Best out of 10 rounds
5 Minute Time Limit for each Round
Teams switch sides after each round
Two random Data locations on each map

Suppression

Basic Team Deathmatch. Find and eliminate the other team.

Standard
Score as many kills as you can in 20 Minutes

Classic
Best out of 7 rounds
7 Minute Time Limit for each Round

Last Defense

Last Defense is an objective based game mode with some different rules. Three neutral spots are placed in the middle of the map. Once a team controls all three they can find the enemy headquarters. It takes about 12 seconds to fully capture a sector. You have to hold an activate button in order to capture the sector. If you are killed while capturing a sector, the sector’s capture bar will remain the same, unlike in other games. If the enemy team has a sector, you must fill the capture bar twice. Once to remove their capture bar and once to fill your own.

After locating the enemy HQ, the team must plant a beacon on one of two locations in the enemy base. The beacon planting team will have 2 minutes to plant the beacon. After the beacon is planted, it will take 19 seconds to call in an airstrike to win the game. The enemy team can take out the beacon in that 19 second time limit. It takes about 9 seconds to plant or remove the beacon. The 19 second beacon timer will replace the 2 minute timer.

If the defending team defends their HQ for the full 2 minute time limit, all three neutral bases will return along with the original game timer. Both teams must capture all three sectors again.

Standard
Best out of 3 Rounds
30 Minute Time Limit for each round

Classic
Best out of 11 Rounds
5 Minute Time Limit for each Round

Bomb Squad

Bomb Squad is an objective game mode all about planting and defending. Three bomb sites are laid out on the map. One team must protect the bomb sites while another team must disarm them. The team that disarms the bomb sites must use one player to do so. This player is called the Bomb Technician. The player who becomes the Bomb Technician is chosen at random. The Bomb Technician is heavily armored and issued two unique weapons. The armor protects the player from bullets, explosives, and even knives. The two special weapons are an automatic shotgun and grenade launcher. You are also given 4 smoke grenades. These weapons cannot be picked up by anyone on either team if the Bomb Technician dies. Protect the Bomb Technician to win the match and earn extra points.

When the bombs are being defused, the letter over the bomb site will begin to flash, warning both teams. Bombs take about 7 seconds to defuse. The bomb locations are random in each game.

Standard
Best out of 2 Rounds
10 Minute Time Limit for each Round
A new Bomb Technician is chosen after the Bomb Technician’s death

Classic
Best out of 10 Rounds
7 Minute Time Limit for each Round
A new Bomb Technician is chosen at the start of each round
The round will end if the bomb technician is killed or kicked from the game
Bomb Technician Weapons